Winston Park guardians fight crime

BUSH RANGERS equipped with high tech cameras and night vision devices are set to become a part of Winston Park’s fight against crime. This comes after the

Winston Park Guardians organisation was formed. The group was initiated after a group of concerned residents called a meeting in November 2013, which was attended by hundreds of people who voted overwhelmingly in favour of a new project in partnership with SA Guardians.

The Winston Park Guardians project is the first urban pilot project to be established, which sees security in the area managed by the community. As an independent and a fully registered not for profit company, all of the major role players, including the SAPS, CPF and over 98 other organisations, have been involved in the process.

SA Guardians and Community Safety NPC (a Section 21 not-for-profit company, registered with PSIRA Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority), was set up specifically for public space community policing operations. A first in South Africa, it gives community committees, like the Winston Park Guardians, the ability to independently employ security personnel.

A comprehensive security plan for the area has been formulated and will be implemented as the project grows. Seven street guards have already been employed and will be followed by eight bush rangers and a security manager. Further measures include high tech camera surveillance, night vision equipment and guarded boom gates, which can be closed in the event of an incident (once permission is received from SAPS). Homeowners still have the freedom to choose their own private armed response company, but the committee is able to negotiate better rates on their behalf.

With the aim of finding an effective way of securing the bush, Hayden Johnson, chairman of the group, thought about how rhinos were protected in game parks. The idea of having trained rangers patrolling the bush was developed. “We want to stop crime before it happens. Through high level surveillance and other means, we want to stop intruders before they even know their presence has been detected,” said Johnson.

The initiative is entirely self-funded and within the first 10 days of the project almost 200 homes had committed to a monthly debit order. The Winston Park Guardians can be contacted by email: winstonpark.kzn@gmail.com, SMS “join wpg” to 326225 or contact Deborah Snyman on 083 794 7778.